The Stranger Diaries is a wonderful standalone mystery/suspense/thriller from Elly Griffiths, author of the Ruth Galloway and Magic Men detective series. While the author's name attracted me to this book, I found myself frequently forgetting that its author is one and the same as that of my favorite Ruth Galloway series; the setting and tone of this suspenseful novel is entirely different from the other two. Setting at times plays as important a role, but unlike the others, The Stranger Diaries is a literary mystery, a story within a story, all centered around the late, reclusive Gothic writer R.M. Holland.

The reader is treated to bits of Holland's thriller, The Stranger, throughout the larger tale: Holland's home now serves as a school, Talgarth High -- where his former study has been kept just as it was at the time of his death. The school is purportedly haunted by his murdered wife. When Talgarth High teacher Clare Cassidy's colleague Ella is also murdered, Clare (who's writing a biography of R.M. Holland), grieves her loss, pouring out her feelings in her diary. Clare becomes a suspect in Ella's death ... and a potential victim herself, when mysterious writing begins to appear in the diary. DS Harbinder Kaur has her hands full, sorting out which of the many characters (from among Clare's academic circle and her teenage daughter Georgia's social circle) might be responsible for Ella's death and further incidents... With multiple narrators, the reader begins to wonder, as the story progresses, exactly who are the unreliable one(s). Even Herbert, Clare's beloved dog, doesn't escape the reader's scrutiny, due to some similarities which may (or may not) be coincidental.

Some additional development or background might be desirable in Clare Cassidy, the main character -- at times it seems like her daughter, Georgia, and DS Kaur, receive more attention along those lines than Clare. But perhaps that slight air of mystery is necessary in order to cast doubt -- no one is really morally/ethically perfect in this tale, which greatly adds to the thrill. You've heard of stories that reach out and grab you? Beware of reading this one at night ... or, do read it at night for the maximum experience!

The Stranger Diaries is billed as a standalone, but I wouldn't mind being deliciously spooked by more Clare Cassidy tales. Five stars for Elly Griffiths' literary mystery and its plot twists (I'd love to say more about those but I hope that, in my holding back some details, others will be able to share this just-spooky-enough experience)!
Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Clare Cassidy, divorcee with 15 year old daughter Georgia, had moved from London to West Sussex, having accepted a position teaching English at Talgarth High School. Clare and Georgia now reside in an isolated house near an abandoned factory. Clare maintains a diary reflecting her innermost thoughts. Additionally, she shares her feelings with rescue dog, Herbert. After all, a dog will not judge his owner! Clare is thrilled that author R.M. Holland, the writer of a gothic ghost story called "The Stranger", formerly resided at the Annex of Talgarth HS.

Talgarth was comprised of a New Building where most student life took place and an Old Building (once called Holland House). The attic was R.M.Holland's study until 1902. Clare, as resident Holland expert, had a key allowing her access to the attic. She planned to write the first ever biography of the reclusive author of "The Stranger". Perhaps she could investigate the death of Holland's wife, Alice. Was Holland House haunted by "a woman in a white nightdress floating down the stairs?... If you see her, is a death imminent?" It started with the death of Ella Ephick, Clare Cassidy's friend and colleague. A troubling note beside the body contained a quote from "The Stranger"..."Hell is empty". DS Harbinder Kaur,a Talgarth graduate, and DS Neil Winston are brought in to investigate. Harbinder is convinced that the murder is not random. She visits Talgarth HS ... "I just want to imagine Ella here".

The impact of Ella's murder and the events following are seen through the eyes and perspective of three distinct characters: Clare, daughter Georgie, and Harbinder. Clare and Georgie's lives are additionally compromised when Clare finds several strange handwritten entries in her personal diary. Could the killer have left his/her calling card?

"The Stranger Diaries" by Elly Griffiths was a suspenseful literary novel like no other I have read. I enjoyed the literary references and the book within a book. Harbinder was my favorite protagonist. Perhaps she seemed crusty and distant but she had "heart". Dog lovers will be thoroughly entertained by the loving relationship between Herbert and his "humans". This stand-alone novel from Elly Griffiths is a gothic, police procedural I highly recommend.

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Stranger Diaries".

Elly Griffiths does it again, creating new tensions and situations that bring our cast together and culminates in a shifting of our main characters. Who's getting uncomfortably close to Ruth? Will Nelson's family accept Kate? How is it that Erik's son Lief is so suspicious? Once again things escalate then conclude with a changing of the pieces on the board. Can't wait for the next installment!

This was such a good book! Definitely kept me turning pages. I was most impressed that the author not only wrote a novel but the short story as well! It’s been a while since I’ve read and gothic mysteries, but the one thing that kind of drove me crazy, early on anyway, we’re all of the asides or explanations of why a character was saying or thinking something.

I’ll tell you one thing, I didn’t see it coming!

Such a creepy read! Not good to read while at home alone lol! This book drew me in right away and was hard to put down even when it got spooky! Clare was an intriguing character to read about that made me question if I could trust her or not. Very fast paced and twisty pefect for anyone who wants a fast read thriller!

Griffiths does a great job marrying the Victorian gothic novel with modern times. Clare Cassidy teaches in the school her daughter Georgia attends. As murders occur, the list of suspects grows, as we get a closer look into the three narrators, Clare, Georgia, and Harbinder, the detective on the scene with an interesting story herself. Recommended for all mystery lovers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, and the opportunity to be scared in a most literary fashion!

Clare Cassidy is a high school English teacher who teaches in an unorthodox building that was once the home of the Gothic writer R.M. Holland. In fact, Clare teaches an adult education course on Holland every year and tries to infuse some of her passion for his work to her students. However, as events begin to unfold eerily similar to a Holland short story, "The Stranger", Clare begins to believe that she is the real target.

Highly suspenseful, engaging and smart. Recommended enthusiastically for all thriller lovers!

Much like her previous novels, this book's attention to detail and characterization is astounding. From the first page I was hooked and I especially appreciate her use of multiple voices in terms of narration and characters experiences. Griffiths continues to show with each new endeavor why she is a major voice in the mystery genre but also how mysteries can indeed be literary.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I was totally enthralled by this one. I've read all of Ms. Griffiths' other books and enjoyed them, so I was a little wary - "what, I'm not going to read about the characters that I have come to enjoy so much?" - but this one was terrific.

Obviously, don't want to include spoilers here. But one of the things that I thought worked beautifully was the shifting perspectives. In this book, the shift definitely worked to provide more insight into the characters. Since the book begins with Clare's perspective, the reader is set up to be "on her side," and when we shift to the detective's perspective, we get an entirely different view of Clare. While I was very defensive at first - "how can she be so biased against Clare?" - it all works in the long run.

I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the writing. I was a bit unsure after reading the description, because I am not a huge fan of ghost stories, but it's all good! This book kept me up way too late last night, because I just didn't want to stop reading.

I know this is marketed as a standalone, but I really wonder if more books might not come along with the characters here. DS Harbinder Kaur is a fascinating character, and I would certainly enjoy reading more about her.

A very big thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to review The Stranger Diaries.

Do you like creepy Gothic mysteries? Then you picked up the right book as The Stranger Diaries has a very creepy, cozy mystery to keep you indoors with the lights on during these winter months. The story opens with Clare Cassidy teaching ghost stories for an adult creative writing class when she finds out that a fellow teacher was murdered last night with a line of a story she was teaching was left at the murder scene. Then she discovers that someone has been reading her diaries and has started commenting in them. It is very disconcerting for Clare when her studies of R. M. Holland's The Stranger ghost story starts to impact her public and private life.

To add to the fun and the impact, Elly Griffiths also provides a view of some events in the voices of Clare's daughter and a police officer which allows an accumulation of details to create a fuller picture in the reader's mind. The tale builds to a very nasty climax followed by an epilogue that allows the reader to put together the final pieces of all the mysteries in the story. And then Elly Griffiths finishes the book by the complete text of "The Stranger" short story she has been excerpting throughout the book. Very nice touch!

The perfect blend of gothic horror, psychological suspense, and police procedural!

‘"If you’ll permit me,” said the Stranger, “I’d like to tell you a story.”’

As much as I love spooky old houses with a dark history, and possible ghosts sightings, a thought-to-be haunted house turned into a secondary school had me even more excited. The Old Building of Talgarth High, was once home to Victorian Horror writer R.M. Holland, best remembered for his horror-themed, scary short story, The Stranger. The top floor still houses his study, out-of-bounds to students, and eerily preserved just as he left it. The ghost of Holland’s wife, Alice, rumoured to have died tragically from a fall down the stairs, is said to haunt the corridors and classrooms of the lower floor, the belief being that if you see her, someone will die shortly thereafter…

Not only is the school creepy, but so was the location of the protagonist, Clare’s, house – one of a row of townhouses in the middle of nowhere, initially built to house workers of the nearby cement factory – which now sits abandoned and derelict.

As scary as I’ve made it out to be, this is neither gory, nor a horror story, but is largely modern day crime, mystery, psychological suspense, with a side of gothic foreboding, meaning that even those who don’t do horror would enjoy this.

We were given three first person narrations;

Clare Cassidy – An English teacher at Talgarth, single mum to Georgie, friend and fellow co-worker of Ella, currently working on a biography of R.M. Holland.

DS Harbinder Kaur – The detective investigating the murder of one of the school’s English teachers, Ella Elphick, who was stabbed to death in her own home. Harbinder attended Talgarth as a student.

Georgie Cassidy – Clare’s teenage daughter, current student at Talgarth.

The POV’s were split into parts, with Clare voicing Part 1, Harbinder Part 2, you get the picture. Excerpts from The Stranger were included throughout, as well as pages from Clare’s diary. I warmed to all three characters early on, even though right from their introduction all of them came across as secretive, and not entirely trustworthy. I enjoyed the contrasting perspectives – teacher, student, detective/former student – and how they all had a connection to Talgarth.

I alternated between the book and the audio version, and have to mention that Andrew Wincott’s over-the-top, dramatic reading of the gothic tale, The Stranger, is a must listen.

Side Note: I was thrilled to bits when Claire’s dog, Herbert, was described as a white Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, the first in a series of children’s picture books penned by New Zealand author, Lynley Dodd.

Elly Griffiths totally killed it – every element fitted together seamlessly. One of my favourite reads for this year, and will undoubtedly make my top ten. Perfect for next Halloween, but why wait that long, cosy up by the fire with it this winter, or if like me, you are heading into summer, prioritise it as your next beach read. Move it to the top, or add it to your tbr, today! You won’t be sorry!

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Elly Griffiths for the e-ARC.

Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, and Auckland Libraries by NZLisaM.

So many books, so little time! The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths is another novel that I have on my must-read list. I am eager to start it. The cover reminds me of an Agatha Christie novel, something creepy and gothic.

Here’s what you need to know:

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger,” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the storylines of her favourite literature.

To make matters worse, the police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her closest confidant, her diary, the only outlet she has for her darkest suspicions and fears about the case. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn’t hers, left on the page of an old diary: “Hallo, Clare. You don’t know me.”
Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?

The setting is England so already I am hooked. There is something I adore about novels set in England and British writers seem to write amazing thrillers. The combination of horror and history promises to deliver a book that I will read in one day.

Put this on your MUST-READ list immediately!

Elly Griffiths is already well known for her 2 superb mystery series’: Ruth Galloway, and The Magic Men/Stephens and Mephisto. The Stranger Diaries is her first standalone mystery book, and has all the engaging traits of her other books (interesting characters, conversational writing), while exploring a contemporary gothic themed plot. The narrative is split between characters, which makes the story disjointed to reflect the confusion and multi-layered nature of the tale. After the murder of a school teacher in West Sussex, colleagues, their families, and police are involved in an investigation that twists and turns, and which has it’s foundations in a short story written by a Victorian novelist: snippets of which used throughout the book. This was a very well-written, entertaining, and smooth piece of writing which urges the reader to keep on reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/NetGalley.

Imagine you keep a diary. And you open it. And you find handwriting that isn’t yours. I don’t know about you but that would creep me the hell out! Especially if my best friend had just been found murdered. Especially if the police were convinced I knew the killer and that they’re the one writing in my diary. But who has access? Who has motive? It goes without saying that diaries are used for ventilating, for working through feelings, for getting over the things and people that peeved you during the day. So what happens when someone reads your deepest darkest feelings and decides to act on them?
This is an intricately woven and very atmospheric psychological thriller with a gothic undertone. It drops hints but they are so subtle you don’t notice them (well I didn’t anyway). The story is told from the viewpoint of Clare, her daughter Georgia and Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur, all three of them strong and interesting women, and well-developed characters: the divorced English teacher dipping her toe in the dating pool water, the spiritual teenager who’s wise before her years, the gay Indian women with the snarky sense of humour, I loved them all. And Herbert, the dog, I mean who could not love heroic Herbert?! Interlacing with current events is the story of The Stranger.
The statement most often made about thrillers must be: it keeps you guessing until the end. Well guess what? This one did keep me guessing until the end! I made my final guess at 93% in, right before the big reveal, and nailed it, and I’ve never been so happy to be right! Okay, admittedly, I think we’ve established before that my sleuthing skills might be somewhat lacking, but regardless of your getting the perp right, The Stranger Diaries is not to be missed!

Highly recommended, especially if you like a gothic vibe to your psychological thrillers

The Stranger Diaries is a modern gothic mystery. It's an interesting read with twists and turns and a surprise ending. The characters are likeable and believable. The premise is a little far fetched but solid enough for a good read.

For readers familiar with Ms. Griffiths' "Ruth Galloway" series, you'll recognize the same strong, cohesive writing style with engaging plots and twists in this stand-alone about Clare Cassidy and what ought to be, but isn't, the quiet academic life and a peaceful home.

The plot is intriguingly woven around an almost gothic ghost story embedded in the writings that form Clare's research interest. This set-up brings the past to the present, and the frightening to today and tonight -- along with a murder.

"The Stranger Diaries" provide a steady pace for the reader, with a strong selection of characters and careful-or-you'll-miss clues about the solution to the crime. The delicious play on words in stranger diaries is rich.

This is a worth-while read for a lovely evening at home. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Stranger Diaries.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it was not a good introduction to her work.

The Stranger Diaries is a boring, chick lit-y mystery that had a decent premise, which is why I chose to read it.

The setting is a haunted school in which a renowned and reclusive horror author used to reside.

One of the teachers, Clare Cassidy, is writing a book about the author, and is not ashamed to admit she is obsessed with his life. When a fellow teacher is brutally murdered, Clare fears for her and her daughter's life as more murders occur.

That sounds pretty decent, doesn't it?

Wrong.

There is nothing scary or intriguing about the story, unless you enjoy constant name alliteration, which there are plenty here. And no one is as cool as Peter Parker.

If you enjoy a female detective making snarky and callous comments inside her head about Clare and the women she interviews, then you'll like DS Kaur.

DS Kaur spends almost as much time envying Clare and the deceased woman's beauty as she does investigating, you wonder if she has any other thoughts left in her brain to figure out whodunit.

If filler POV viewpoints float your boat, then you'll enjoy the tedious multiple viewpoints of Clare, her daughter Georgia, and Kaur, though much of their inner thoughts and details could have been edited down.

I didn't like anyone, except the dog. No surprise there, but animals are awesome, especially dogs.

The women are all stereotypical archetypes; described as either haughty and beautiful, or dowdy and pathetic, or hippie dippy with long, flowing hair and spouting New Age-y wisdom.

Forget about the men; no one is worth mentioning, not even the professor who contacts Clare when he has personal letters regarding the author Clare is interested in writing about.

Nearly all the men are creepy and schlubby and adultering.

There is a male teacher, obviously a sexual predator but Clare does not think so, which bothers me so so much.

She lets his behavior to slide and chalks it up to the fact that he was drunk. That's not an excuse. Nothing excuses sexual assault. Nothing.

Naturally, Clare and the murdered woman are gorgeous, stunning creatures, a physical detail all the characters, including Kaur constantly bring up or mention in their inner monologues.

There is a lack of character development, and there are many characters, most of whom do not move the story forward in any way.

When the bad guy is revealed, I said "Huh" even though I had guessed right but there was no exposition or background to explain this person's motivation and behavior (the reason he or she gives is quite lame.)

I like stories within a story; the inclusion of the reclusive author's famous short story is found at the end of the book and adds to the atmospheric element of the setting, but it does not help a plodding mystery that is not much of a mystery.

The premise had potential but third-rate one dimensional characters and a boring story makes this read not one I would recommend.

A stand alone outing for Griffiths, and a sort of Gothic mystery about a literature teacher whose real life collides with that of characters within a book by RM Holland, that she teaches a short course on.

It is a fun little jaunt, that whilst not Griffiths at her best is still a fun read.

The book also reminded slightly of Catherine Lowell's superior The Madwoman Upstairs

As a librarian and former English teacher, I really enjoyed this novel. I also particularly enjoyed the segmented way in which Griffiths inserted The Stranger into the larger text, only allowing the reader to take it in fully once the story had ended. I wasn't entirely convinced by the characters or the resolution of the mystery (teenagers who employ 'teenage language' strategically always feel a bit false to me), but I wanted to know who the killer was nonetheless.

This was gothic but set in modern times with very modern characters. The characters portrayed were teachers, their present day normal teenagers, single mothers trying to do their best (in their opinion!!) for their children, and like countless families actually knowing very little of what their children are upto.

Clare is writing a book on R M Holland and the mystery behind him. She also teaches at Talgarth High which is where Holland lived and his wife had a tragic end. The mystery surrounding his daughter Mariana survives to the day. When one of her dearest friends are found murdered on similar lines to the Holland stories with tag lines from his writings, Clare knows she is in some danger. When Rick another fellow teacher is found stabbed to death in Holland's study Clare has to figure out who and most importantly why people surrounding her are being targeted. The danger spirals when Herbert her pet goes missing and then her ex husband is stabbed in London in a seemingly random attack.

Are these attacks as random as they seem, what is the significance of the notes that appear in Clare's diary which is secured in her house, her daughters random reaches into the spirits - all happening at the same time, all either connected to the Holland book or is it something else entirely. The detectives in charge have to put random clues by a clever murderer together before he strikes again. Both the final almost victim and the murderer were surprises to me.

A book I couldn't put down combining murder, the spirit world, a bit of Gothic and 21st century schooling with touches of romance put together well